Van Morrisson Honoured With Freedom Of Belfast

Northern Irish legend Van Morrison has been given the Freedom of Belfast, and will play a free concert to celebrate.

The 68-year-old double Hall of Famer (he’s been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters HoFs) has been given one of the most prestigious accolades of his career, after councillors reportedly voted unanimously to award him the freedom of the city.

Van Morrison - who was born in Belfast - is ‘delighted’ to have received the title and is lining-up a free entry concert in his hometown to celebrate. The blue-eyed soul shouter​ told The Telegraph:

“Belfast is my home. It is where I first heard the music that influenced and inspired me, it is where I first performed and it is somewhere I have referred back to many times in my songwriting over the past 50 years. I am delighted and honoured to receive the freedom of the city.”

The ceremony and concert is being named as one of the upcoming highlights of the fourth annual Belfast Music Week, which kicks off in November. Van Morrison is just the second person in the past decade to receive the freedom of Belfast.

If you want to catch Van Morrison live, he’ll be performing in the city on November 15, while he also performs at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 30 as part of BluesFest 2013.

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